Mark's Tokyo — Restaurant in Tokyo

TLDR; top notch meal & restaurant in Meguro City that is perfect for travellers or those living in Japan who are looking for a high-end but also intimate dining experience.

FOOD:

Mark's menu was a blend of Japanese & Italian foods stemming from his personal heritage and training (as he was cooking and playing, he shared so many wonderful stories). He mentioned that he will go to the market to see what's in season or fresh to inspire new dishes for the week. If you made me pick my favorite, it was his lotus root & asian pear soup with focaccia! Everything else though was delicious and well seasoned, from the pesto pasta, the scallops, and the pork shoulder. We loved the small touches like finishing salt, olive oil, or homemade chili oil which he would add to his dishes. Oh I can't forget the homemade ice cream at the end 🤤

ENVIRONMENT & SERVICE

The counter seating was awesome because it felt like a chef's table for all of us. It felt like we were in his beautiful kitchen as he prepared and served the meal. Service was super attentive and outstanding. I didn't drink but my husband enjoyed some whiskey and other guests enjoyed wine which Mark selected specifically to complement the dishes. There were also two small booths available.

Overall, we left so full, satisfied, and grateful we scheduled this special meal during our trip. It was a great mix of Japanese and western cuisine and I recommend everyone to come here and enjoy. In fact, the guests next to us (who we didn't know) already scheduled their next reservation!!

On that note: make a reservation! We snagged one for a Saturday evening and the...

The most amazing experience. The food is delicious, truly a step above - which is saying something in Tokyo. You can tell that an inordinate amount of thought and care goes into each dish, all using ingredients that are either locally sourced or have some relationship to the chef’s (Mark) life or heritage. Any of the dishes by themself would be something to write home about and the fact that they were all like that, just made us more excited for each course. We also were fortunate to do the wine pairing with the meal, which Chef Mark offered to tailor to as many glasses as we’d like - we opted to pair a new glass with each course - and each time the wine was the perfect complement to the dish. The wines were all from the West coast of the US, and all were fantastic, even varieties we wouldn’t typically go for (such as Chardonnay) were delicious and just the right flavor to go with the pairing. While all of the above makes the restaurant a 5 star location, it’s the intimacy of the place and the engagement of Chef Mark and the waitstaff that make it an unforgettable experience. Chatting with them was like being in a living room with old friends, to the point that we left feeling like we’d made new friends. We can’t...

Mark's Tokyo offers an extraordinary dining experience with a blend of Japanese and Italian flavors. Chef Mark and his staff were attentive, providing excellent service that enhanced our evening. My wife, friends, and I enjoyed the Chef’s Omakase Course, which began with a delightful chilled corn soup. The Aomori Prefecture salmon, paired with edamame hummus, was a standout, highlighting the freshness of the ingredients. The homemade fettuccine with Mark's mom’s tomato sauce brought comforting, familiar flavors to the table. The kuroge-wagyu sirloin steak, served with a black garlic ginger sauce, was tender and bursting with rich taste. We ended the meal with homemade ice cream, a perfect sweet finish.

Mark's dedication to using locally sourced ingredients is evident in every dish. Vegetables arrive at their peak of ripeness, seafood is directly sourced from the Toyosu Fish Market, and animal proteins come from small farmers in Honshu and Kyushu. Mark’s upbringing, with a Japanese chef father and an Italian-American mother, profoundly influences his cuisine, resulting in a menu that is as dynamic as it is delicious. Mark's Tokyo a must-visit culinary...